Photo: Young Machine
Kawasaki is rumored to unveil more supercharged motorcycles soon, if we are to believe the Japanese guys at Young Machine (YM) magazine. YM has a good history of anticipating and scooping interesting models, but we're not buying everything that gets printed between their covers.
For example, the latest two bikes Young Machine mentions are the Ninja R2 and Ninja S2. Kawasaki has indeed trademarked the Ninja R2 name earlier this year, so we can believe that there will be such a bike arriving from Akashi, though it is yet unclear how it will stack against the H2.
Most of the rumors indicate that the Ninja R2 might be a supercharged bike in the vein of the H2, yet derived from the ZX-R family. Obviously, the main thing is affordability, as the H2 sells for around $25,000 (US dollars or Euro, as is the case) and this makes it unreachable for most riders.
A forced-induction superbike selling for, say, $15,000-$17,000, would be an entirely different offer and could become a strong seller, if it packs advantages such as better mileage for comparable power, or so.
Still, with no official info from Kawasaki, no spy shots or more credible inside info, these remain only rumors and Photoshop manipulations. We can only hope that more news about other supercharged bikes will surface ahead of the EICMA show. Anyway, we'll be in Milan in November, so stay put, for we'll bring you everything new from house Akashi and not only.
Most of the rumors indicate that the Ninja R2 might be a supercharged bike in the vein of the H2, yet derived from the ZX-R family. Obviously, the main thing is affordability, as the H2 sells for around $25,000 (US dollars or Euro, as is the case) and this makes it unreachable for most riders.
A forced-induction superbike selling for, say, $15,000-$17,000, would be an entirely different offer and could become a strong seller, if it packs advantages such as better mileage for comparable power, or so.
Young Machine speculates that the ER-6 family might also receive a supercharged member
The supercharged "fever" is also reportedly going to reach the middleweight Kawasaki segment, the same source speculates. The ER-6 family has been indicated as a possible territory for the supercharger's expansion, with Young Machine mentioning a Ninja S2 bike that would complement the 600-ish range.Still, with no official info from Kawasaki, no spy shots or more credible inside info, these remain only rumors and Photoshop manipulations. We can only hope that more news about other supercharged bikes will surface ahead of the EICMA show. Anyway, we'll be in Milan in November, so stay put, for we'll bring you everything new from house Akashi and not only.
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